Kodak

Kodak and Heraeus have developed a new easily-patterend transparent conductive film that can be used as a cost-effective alternative to ITO in touch displays. The two companies unveiled a 14" touch LCD prototype that was was fabricated using Kodak HCF-225 Film/ESTAR base and the Clevios PEDOT:PSS coating with a surface resistivity of 225 ohms/sq. It was fabricated using conventional printing processes, including UV-cured and heat processed inks.

According to the companies, the polymer-based touch screen system provides superior touch performance, flexibility, stability, a high level of transparency, neutral color and low haze – all at an economic price

Last week we reported that Chimei Innolux are showing AMOLED panels at FPD China 2011 (which is good news as we're still not sure whether Chimei Innolux (CMI) is producing AMOLED panels or not). We now have more information on those panels. There are two panels on show: a 3.2" (320x480) and a 3.5" (360x64).

CMI are calling those displays TrueOLED, but apparantly they use a white-OLED with color filters design. This is the same method that was developed by Kodak (and now LG owns that technology). This includes a white subpixel (with no filter) to enhance brightness. Other features of those panels: 300cd/m²brightness, 30,000:1 contrast ratio, 160° viewing angles and 100% color gamut for the 3.2" panel (87% for the 3.5" one).

Idemitsu Kosan said they have signed an agreement to acquire a 32.73% stake in Global OLED Technology. Global OLED Technology is owned by LG, and this company has over 2,000 OLED patents (LG created this company when it bought Kodak's OLED business back in December 2009).

Update: Nikkei.com reports that the deal is estimated at "several billion yen" (a billion yen is about $11 million). This makes sense, as LG originally bought the whole patent portfolio for $100 million.

Technocorp Energy (formed by ex-Kodak employees) will license Kodak's OLED Lighting technology from Global OLED Technology (LG's company that holds the 2,000 OLED patents bought from Kodak). Technocorp plan is to produce efficient OLED panels (70lm/W) at $64/m². This will take time and a lot of effort of course, and the company is looking for funding, partners and joint-ventures to achieve this goal.

Via +PlasticElectronics

A group of ex-Kodak employees, who left the company following Kodak's OLED business acquisition by LG in December 2010 has formed a new company, called TechnoCorp Energy. The company (based in New York, US) will work on OLED Lighting, and has already given seed funding. It's not clear yet whether they will use Kodak's OLED Lighting IP, which was bought by LG as part of the acquisition.

In the company's web site, they do not actually mention OLEDs, but rather say they will work on a 'select set of renewable energy projects and working these projects in tandem'.

Via PlusPlasticElectronics

Back in December, LG announced it will buy Kodak's OLED unit. Back then the price was not revealed - but in Kodak's latest quarterly report they reveal that the price was $100 million. Kodak also entered into a licensing transaction with LG which gave them $414 million in revenue, this is not related to OLEDs.

Kodak's OLED patent cover OLED displays architecture (including the white-OLED with color filter design), OLED lighting and OLED manufacturing methods. In June 2008 we posted an interview with Mr. Corey Hewitt and Dr. James Buntaine from Kodak OLED Systems. In December we published an interview with Mr. Steven Van Slyke and Dr. Yuan-Sheng Tyan - discussing Kodak's OLED lighting technologies and business.

Kodak announced today that it has completed the previously announced sale of its OLED business to an entity set up by a group of LG companies.

I guess we now wait to see how LG handles their new OLED IP and technologies. There are rumors that they will create a new entity called LG OLED to handle all OLED business within the group.